NICK OF TIME: Nick Davidson of LoyalTees grabs the ball in action last week against NJ Spiritwear in the best-of-three championship series in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Davidson helped LoyalTees win the series, scoring 29 points as the team defeated NJ Spiritwear 76-60 in the third and deciding game last Friday at the Hun School gym. Davidson was named as the winner of the league’s Foreal Wooden Playoff MVP award. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After Nick Davidson and his LoyalTees teammates fell to NJ Spiritwear in the opening contest of the best-of-three championship series in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League, they brought a scrappy approach into game two.

“In the first game we came out a little lackadaisical; we were trying to feel them out a little bit and they ended up pouncing on us,” said Davidson, reflecting on the team’s 70-67 loss in the opener on July 23 at the Princeton High gym.

“We tried to hit them and put the pedal to the metal all day today. My philosophy is turnovers and boards. If you win that battle, you win.”

Davidson, the league’s regular season MVP, took matters into his own hands two nights later in game two, tallying 23 points to help LoyalTees win 82-73 and force a third and decisive game.

“I was trying to attack the rim to see how they were going to call things; it was a very physical game today,” said Davidson, who picked up a welt under his left eye battling in the paint. “I would rather have a physical game than a soft game any day, so I felt that was good. My three ball wasn’t falling so I attacked the rim.”

In addition, Davidson displayed his passing skills, making several deft feeds as LoyalTees showed its offensive balance in the win with Vince Anfield scoring 21 points and former Princeton High standout Zahrion Blue chipping in 18.

“I also try to get my teammates the ball because I am seeing a lot of double teams,” added the 6’6, 220-pound Davidson, a former Rancocas Valley High star who finished his college career at Division II Bloomfield College last winter with a total of 1,924 points.

“If they double team me, they are going to be in for a long day. I will find my guys and my guys are great at cutting.”

The team’s defensive intensity helped it keep going in the title series. “We just had to make a priority of playing mano-a mano defense,” said Davidson. “We were there for help, but you have to stop the man that is in front of you; I thought we did a good job of weathering their storm.”

On Friday night at the Hun School gym, LoyalTees stormed to the title, pulling away to a 76-60 win as Davidson scored 29 points to earn the league’s Foreal Wooden Playoff MVP award.

“We are just a really gritty team; I feel like we bring it every night,” said Davidson. “I love my guys; we work hard and it shows.”